The Grand Canyon

After an evening visit to the Painted Desert comes a very early morning drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

From Wikipedia...

Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.^[7][8] While some aspects about the history of incision of the canyon are debated by geologists,^[7][9] several recent studies support the hypothesis that the Colorado River established its course through the area about 5 to 6 million years ago.^{[7][1][10][11]} 

And...

For thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans, who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a holy site, and made pilgrimages to it.^[12] The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.^[13]

So, I'm neither the first nor the last to visit this place. In fact, I was far from alone in my morning jaunt to the rim. Although I dare say that most people did not drive three hours in the dark to get there like I did.

The colors are pretty amazing.